Pencil vending machine feed control



c. B. ALEXANDER 2,468,649

PENCIL VENDING MACHINE FEED CONTROL April 26, 1949.

Filed May 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TO 2, I

CLsTus 5. ALEXANDER, x -r B W a: m

flTTORNEY.

C. B. ALEXANDER PENCIL VENDING MACHINE FEED CONTROL April 26, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1948 R) M Y E M N x R OE 0 r m T N T .9 N 1 M U T .E L C.

April 26, 1949. c. B. ALEXANDER PENCIL VENDING MACHINE FE-ED CONTROL 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed May 29, 1948 EEW .p I V INvE-N TOR, CLETUS B. Ausxmvos Iv M TTORNE X TORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 C. B. ALEXANDER April 26, 1949.

PENCIL VENDING MACHINE FEED CONTROL Filed May 29, l948 HIM INVENTOR, CLETUS B. ALEXANDE 18+ M9.

fl vw w H Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a vending machine designed to vend lead pencils. Reference is made to my copending application, Serial No. 671,758, which matured as Patent No. 2,462,298 of February 22, 1949, of which this is a continuation in part. A primary object of the invention is to provide a structure which will be positive in feeding only that number of pencils intended to he vended for the coin inserted in the control mechanism. A still further primary object of the invention is to provide such a structure which will be durable and not be prone to break down or jam under long periods of usage or under rapid and continuous usage.

The invention permits embodiment in a structure which may be adjusted to vend a single pencil, two pencils, three pencils, or four pencils. all for a single coin as may be predetermined. Furthermore, the invention permits the vending of at least two different types of pencils such as differences in degree of hardness of lead, shapes of pencil, or differences in colors of the leads.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of the one best form now known to me, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation and partial section of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in vertical section on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a view in front elevation of the pencil feed cylinder;

Fig. 4, a View in top plan and partial section of the machine;

Fig. 5, a View in section on the line 55 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6, a View in left-hand elevation and partial section of the machine.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views in the drawings.

Since the present invention does not reside in the particular coin control mechanism, details of such mechanism are not herein shown nor described. Such mechanism herein designated by the numeral II] is mounted on the front cover II. In this respect, it is sufiicient to note that in the present showing, there is an operating handle ii. that is released for turning only by the insertion of a coin downwardly into the chute I3. Rotation of the handle 12 in one direction rocks an operating lever l4 inwardly of the machine away from the front cover plate H, and in opposite direction, rocks the lever l4 forwardly. All of this mechanism so far described in relation to the movement of the lever it is commercially obtainable, and constitutes one of the well-known coin control mechanisms.

Toward the lower end of the machine is fixed an inclined floor l5, sloping downwardly from the rear wall it to extend to the front wall ii, in which wall there is a slot H3. The slot i8 is at the front level of the floor l5 and is limited in horizontal length to only a fraction of the pencil length Spaced above the floor l5 and in substantially parallel relation thereto is a cover plate 62, extending from a rear end 63 spaced forwardly of the back vertical wall it and sloping downwardly to contact by its forward end with the front wall H at an elevation at the top edge of the slot it. Then there is a partition or pencil guide wall 6'4 in a vertical plane interconnecting the floor l5 and. the cover plate 62 to extend from the left vertical edge of the slot l8 diagonally to the left in line with a post mounted between the floor is and the cover 62 spaced forwardly of the backwall It and to the right of the left wall 2 l, Figs. 2 and 5.

Above the floor l5 and back of the lever M is mounted a feed cylinder [9. This cylinder 19 is mounted upon a shaft 20 carried by the inner side walls 2| and 22 of the machine housing .83 which fits over the walls 2 l and .22. A transverse bar 23 is held below the cylinder l9 by means of end arms 24 and 25 which rockably engage the shaft 20, one at each end of the cylinder 19.

A link 26 is rockably secured to the arm 24 to extend forwardly to be rockably attached to the lever l4 through a spacer 66, Fig. 1. The degree of swinging of the bar 23 is determined by the point of engagement of the link 26 along the lever I4. A pawl 28 is rockably mounted between the arms 2 and 25 to extend entirely across and above the bar 23. In fact, the pawl 28 constitutes a .bar of sufficient width to permit its rear edge to extend downwardly and over the rear edge of the bar 23 and to have its forward edge extend above the front edge of the bar 23. The pawl 28 is mounted to have its major portion rearwardly of its pivot trunnions 29 and 30 whereby the rear end of the pawl 28 will normally drop down-- wardly to that position indicated in the various views in the drawings. To insure that the pawl 28 normally remains in that position, a spring 31 is provided to interconnect the forward edge of the pawl 28 with an upper portion of the arm 25, Fig. 2.

The cylinder 19 is provided with [a plum ,ty of transverse slots 32. Each slot 3.2 in the Present form of the invention has a depth equal substantially to twice the diameter of each of the pencils to be vended. The cylinder l9 may be made out of any suitable material desired, the primary requirement being that the material does not wear appreciably over long periods of use. The widths of the slots 32 exceed slightly the diameter of a single pencil to be vended, these widths being made to provide for easy insertion of pencils therein and removal therefrom under the influence of gravit The transverse width of the machine within the inner side walls 2| and 22 is made to be slightly greater than the length of the pencils to be vended. On each of the side walls 2| and 22 are mounted respectively downwardly and inwardly inclined shelves 33 and 34. The lower inner edge of each shelf terminates substantially at the circumferential line of the cylinder l9, if the cylinder H! be extended. As indicated, Figs. 2 and 4, the shelves 33 and 34 are confined to the respective spaces between the ends of the cylinder l9 and the side walls 2| and 22 without overlapping the cylinder. Arcuate flanges 35 and 35, Figs. 2 and 6, are carried respectively by the side walls 2| and 22 adjacent the rear wall I6 as continuations of an upper, separate, deflector board 31 carried by and across between the side walls 2| and 22. These flanges 35 and 36 are spaced rearwardly from projected surfaces of the cylinder IS, a distance less than the diameter of a pencil to be vended.

A central vertical partition 38 is mounted between the side walls 2| and 22, and from this partition 38, extend across the partition, outwardly and downwardly deflectors 39 and 40 respectively. At the lower end of the partition 38, there is provided a roller 42 to extend by its length entirely across the space between the side walls 2| and 22, and to be circumferentially shiftable only within limits of circular wall holes 44 which receive the respective ends of the roller. Springs 43, one engaging each outer roller end, extend in directions opposite the direction of travel of the cylinder 59 and have their opposite ends engaged to the walls 2| and '22 so as to yieldingly retain the roller 42 at the bottoms of the holes 44. These springs 43 extend forwardly and downwardly from the ends of the roller 42 opposite to the roller travel direction and are in that respect at common obtuse angles to a plane tangential to the cylinder l9 immediately below said holes 44. This roller 42 is there yieldingly retained in a position substantially tangential to the periphery of the cylinder I9 but sufficiently out of contact therewith so as not to be shifted by travel of the cylinder. The roller 42 serves in effect as a circumferentially and vertically shiftable lower marginal portion of the partition 38.

In the same manner, a roller 61 similar to the roller 42, is mounted adjacent the lower forward end of the deflector board 31, where the ends of the roller 61 extend through the circular holes 45 respectively in the side walls 2| and 22 to have those ends engaged exteriorly of the walls by ends of the springs 46 which are carried back from the roller ends somewhat below the horizontal and in the direction opposite to that of the pencil feeding travel of the cylinder l9 and anchored to the walls 2| and 22. In further reference to the holes 44 and 45, they are made to have large enough diameters and are so located in reference to the partition 38 and the board 31, that the rollers 42 and 61 may, under positions.

The deflector 39 is removably supported on end brackets 69, one each secured to the innerface respectively of the walls 2| and 22. Likewise the deflector 40 is removably secured to the end brackets Ill, one each respectively secured to the side walls 2| and '22. Intermediate the deflector 39 and the shelf brackets 33 and 34, there is removably mounted a deflector 1| carried by end brackets 72 respectively fixed to the side walls 2| and 22. This deflector TI is substantially parallel to the plane of the top sides of the shelves 33 and 34, and has its rear downward edge positioned slightly rearwardly of the forward lower edge of the deflector 39 and forwardly of the lower rear edges of the shelves 33 and 34.

To operate the dispenser, the upper top cover 13 is lifted, and pencils (not shown) are dropped into the spaces provided on each side of the central partition 38. The dispenser may carry the same kind of pencils on each side of the partition 38, or different constructions or kinds of pencils may be selectively positioned on each side of that central partition 38, all as may be desired. In any event, pencils on the forward side of the partition 38 will strike the upper deflector 39, and roll downwardly and forwardly to drop onto the intermediate deflector H, and in turn be directed to roll rearwardly to drop downwardly into contact with the cylinder Hi. The shelves 33 and 34 extend outwardly a sufficient distance from the walls 2| and 22 so that the ends of the pencils are carried thereon. Some of the pencils may of course back up on these shelves 33 and 34 under the deflector 1|, but there is always a sufficient space between the deflector H and these shelves 33 and 34 to permit free upward travel of the pencils therebetween. Pencils placed behind the partition 38 will roll downwardly and rearwardly from the deflector 40, and drop downwardly to be guided by'the deflector 37 forwardly over the top side of the cylinder l9. Of course the entire space above the deflectors 39 and 40 may be filled with pencils to provide a suificient supply thereof. The front and rear housing walls I and I6 respectively confine the pencils within the walls 2| and 22.

The grooves 32 across the cylinder I9 are sufficiently deep to receive two lead pencils in each groove, one pencil radially disposed upon the other pencil therein, at each end of the cylinder 3, and spaced longitudinally a distance therefrom, there are mounted on the shaft 24 the sectors 15 and 1B which are employed to control the number of pencils to be dispensed upon one operation of the knob |2 for the particular denomination of the coin inserted in the chute I3, for which the machine is set up. Each of these sectors 75 and 16 are identical in shape and construction. There is a hub ll secured to each of the sectors, 75 being taken as the example, Fig. 6, and this hub T! is free to revolve around the shaft 20 to permit corresponding swinging of the sector 15. Then the outer peripheral edge 18 of the sector constitutes an arc of a constant radius from the center of the shaft 20. This radius is made to be such that the periphery 78 is removed inwardly from the outer peripheral portions of the cylinder I9 between the grooves or slots 32 whereby the distance therebetween will equal substantially the diameter of the pencils to be dispensed. Then on the outer face of the sector Hi, there are mounted in spaced circumferential relation posts 19 and 88 which extend laterally from that outer face to come into contact with the end wall 2i. A screw M is revolubly passed through the wall 2| to screw-threadedly engage axially within the post 19. This fixes the sector in the position indicated in the several views of the drawings whereby the upper portion of the sector extends around between the lower end of the shelves 33, 34 and the underside of the roller 42, as best shown in Fig. 2. The other sector I6 is correspondingl mounted in the same manner as described in respect to the sector 15. With the sectors 15 and '16 thus mounted and held in fixed positions, the machine is set up to dispense two pencils, one pencil from the space forwardly of the partition 38, and one pencil rearwardly of the partition 38.

Pencils in the forward compartment generally designated by the numeral 32 drop into the exposed grooves 32 of the cylinder is and are carried upwardly toward the roller 52, the cylinder being turned in a counterclockwise direction in respect to Fig. 2. As the pencils approach the roller 32, other pencils above the periphery of the cylinder iii are held from entering between the roller t2 and that periphery. In case a pencil started to jam between the periphery of the roller l9 and the roller :32, the roller 42 will yieldingly travel under the pull of the springs 33 rearwardly and upwardly by reason of the 'fact that the roller 52 is smaller diameter than the holes i l within which the ends of the roller are carried. In other words there is a rearward and upward movement of the roller 422 under the pressure of the jammed p il. This yielding travel of the roller 12 is sufzlcient to exert an action upon that upper pencil, that is the pencil above the one carried within the groove 32 of the cylinder 89, to straighten that upper pencil and withhold it to permit the cylinder iii to continue to revolve on around and under the roller 22.

Then as the first groove 32 comes back of the partition there will already be a pencil in the bottom of that groove 32, and those pencils carried within the compartment 83 which is the compartment to the rear of the partition 35% will drop downwardly to feed one pencil at a time into the grooves 32 above th pencils already therein so that the grooves will then have two pencils each carried thereby. Now as the cylinder !9 continues to travel, pencils immediately forwardly of the deflector 3? will be held back and tended to be prevented from jamming by reason of the presence of the roller t'l mounted in the peculiar manner in which description has been above made. Any tendency of a third pencil to jam over the top of the two pencils already in the groove 32 immediately adjacent the roller 8?, will be avoided and eliminated by reason of the permissible travel of the roller Bl under the influence of the springs at, this travel being possible to the rear and eventually around and upwardly to lift and jostle the pencils above those carried within the grooves 32. Then after passing the roller Bl, the two pencils will be carried on around between the cylinder [9 and the rear defiector flanges 35 so that the pencils are carried around downwardly and eventually may drop from the grooves 32 immediately above the turned up flange E3 of the top platform cover 62.

Pencils dropping downwardly strike the floor l 5, and'tend to roll downwardly to the front wall I 9. However by reason of the presence of the post 65, one end of each pencil will be restrained from downward rolling until the other end of the same pencil has travelled around to point downwardly so that it will eventually slide substantially longitudinally down the floor l5 toward the slot l8 through which the pencil may eventually be discharged under the influence of gravity. All of the pencils dropping from the cylinder is will thus be turned to discharge longitudinally from the machine.

Now should it be desired that only one pencil at a time be dispensed, the sectors l5 and 16 have the respective screws 8i withdrawn, and the sectors E5 and it are rocked around in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 2, to have their periphcries extend continuously from the lower end of the forward shelves 33, a l, and the lower forward end of the deflector 3?, and the screws 8| then entered into the second post to secure thos sectors in that position. With the sector so located, one pencil at a time will enter the grooves 32 forwardly of the partition 38, and no additional pencils will be picked up from the compartment 33 until all of the pencils have been fed out of the forward compartment 82, whereupon pencils in the rear compartment 83 will then feed out by entering the empty grooves 32 above the peripheries of those end sectors 15 and lb.

it is to be seen that the structure above described is flexible in its operation as to the dispensing of one or two pencils at each operation, and one or two pencils of difierent colors, or difierent constructions, or shapes as to being cylindrical or hexagonal as is generally the case in ordinary lead pencils. In either event, the peculiar mounting of the rollers 42 and 6'! Withtheir circular end holes provides for very positive preventing means of jamming of the machine so that the pencils may be dispensed correctly for each operation of the knob I 2.

While I have herein shown my invention in the best forms as now known to me, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those precise forms beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pencil vending machine, a cylindrical member rotatable on its axis in horizontal disposition and being provided with pencil receiving grooves thereacross parallel with said axis; a pencil hopper wall directed toward said cylinder and terminating by an edge spaced from the cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder; a rod interposed along and between said wall end and said cylinder to form a shiftable pencil closure therebetween; means mounting said rod by its ends to permit radial and circumferential travel in respect to said cylinder, upon pressure of a pencil thereagainst; and means yieldingly resisting said travel.

2. In a pencil vending machine, a cylindrical member rotatable on its axis is horizontal disposition and being provided with pencil receiving grooves thereacross parallel with said axis; a pencil hopper wall directed toward said cylinder and terminating by an edge spaced from the cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder; a rod interposed along and between said wall end and said cylinder to form a shiftable pencil closure therebetween; means mounting said rod by its ends to permit radial and circumferential travel in respect to said cylinder, upon pressure of a pencil thereagainst; and means yieldingly resisting said travel; said bar mounting means comprising a circular hole in a member at each end thereof; and said yielding means comprising springs biasing said bars against the margins of said holes.

3. In a pencil vending machine, a pair of side frame members; a cylindrical member rotatably carried between said frame members to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, horizontally disposed. said cylindrical member being provided with pencil carrying peripheral slots therearound and parallel to said axis; spaced Walls between said frame members, and between which Walls pencils may be carried to be in substantially parallel alignment with said grooves, said walls being directed toward said cylinder but terminating in spaced relation therefrom each by an edge extending thereacross; means for rotating said cylindrical member to have its periphery between said Walls travel toward and thereunder; a roller between each of said wall edges and said cylindrical member free of contact therewith, and having a diameter less than that of said pencils; said frame members having holes with arcuate margins adjacent the cylinder; said roller having its ends entering said holes by portions of less radius of curvature than that of said arcuate margins; springs retaining said roller in the respective holes on said margins nearest said cylindrical member, said holes limiting travel of the roller under pull of said springs to have the roller positioned across said spaces between the wall edges and the cylindrical member.

4. In a pencil vending machine, a cylindrical member rotatable on its axis in horizontal disposition and being provided with pencil receiving grooves thereacross parallel with said axis; a pen-- cil hopper wall directed toward said cylinder and terminating by an edge spaced from the cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder; a rod interposed along and between said wall end and said cylinder to form a shiftable pencil closure therebetween; means mounting said rod by its ends to permit radial and circumferential travel in respect to said cylinder, upon pressure of a pencil thereagainst; and means yieldingly resisting said travel; said cylinder being less in length than said pencils; a sector mounted in relatively fixed position at each end of said cylinder, each having an arcuate periphery in the paths of the ends of said pencils which may extend beyond said cylinder; means locating said pencils on the cylinder to have ends of common pencils extend from both ends of the cylinder; said sectors having peripheries located radially of said cylinder to limit the number of pencils in each of said grooves which may pass freely under said rod.

5. In a pencil vending machine, a cylindrical member rotatable on its axis in horizontal disposition and being provided with pencil receiving grooves thereacross parallel with said axis; a pencil hopper wall directed toward said cylinder and terminating by an edge spaced from the cylinder; means for rotating the cylinder; a rod interposed along and between said wall end and said cylinder to form a shiftable pencil closure therebetween; means mounting said rod by its ends to permit radial and circumferential travel in respect to said cylinder, upon pressure of a pencil thereagainst; and means yieldingly resisting said travel; said cylinder being less in length than said pencils; a sector mounted in relatively fixed position at each end of said cylinder, each having an arcuate periphery in the paths of the ends of said pencils which may extend beyond said cylinder; means locating said pencils on the I cylinder to have ends of common pencils extend from both ends of the cylinder; said sectors having peripheries located radially of said cylinder to limit the number of pencils in each of said grooves which may pass freely under said rod; said sectors being rockably on the axis of said cylinder; and means for selectively securing the sector to be primarily on one side of said rod or to extend from both sides thereof.

CLE'I'US B. ALEXANDER.

No references cited. 

